TEMPERATE SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS 101 



on the basis of the conversion formula above used, 1 yield over 

 95,000 tons of dressed meat. In addition, the original materials 

 exported from China in 1911 would have contained not less than 

 400,000 tons of vegetable oils. 



Since the climate and the soil are both favourable to the raising 

 of these crops in their respective areas of production in China, it is 

 probable that an increased demand from the outside world, together 

 with better means of internal transport, will cause the extensive 

 exports in this direction to increase further. Manchuria and 

 Korea, which are the centre of soya bean production, differ from 

 China Proper in having greater areas available for field crops ; 

 while the ground-nut is adapted to the intensive garden-like methods 

 of cultivation of Southern China. 



In the New World, Northern Mexico, outside the tropics, has 

 some importance as a cattle-rearing region, the surplus going to 

 the United States. 



Cattle-farming on the extensive, ranching system is followed 

 in the provinces of Chihuahua, Sonora and Coahuila, adjoining the 

 American boundary. The region occupied by these provinces is 

 all well over 2,000 feet in elevation, and enjoys better climatic 

 conditions than the semi-arid Western States of America, owing 

 to the rather mote equable climate and less deficient rainfall. 2 It 

 has been able to supply a large number of young cattle annually 

 for export to the United States ranges as " feeders." 3 



Northern Mexico, however, suffers from several disadvantages 

 that prevent its developing as a cattle-raising region to the full 

 extent of its resources : the government is weak, and property is 

 consequently insecure ; few systematic efforts are made by Mexi- 

 can cattlemen to improve the poor quality of their stock, and the 

 attempt made by American stock-owners in the country are of 

 little avail, because of the absence of fencing and the mingling of 

 the herds ; scarcely any provision is made by way of fodder crops 

 for the six to seven months dry season that occurs annually, so 

 that the condition of the stock is apt to be poor ; and little organised 

 effort is made in the direction of contending with the prevalent 

 animal diseases. 



Northern Mexico is accordingly not able to export any re- 

 frigerated meat, and is not likely to do so in the near future. " The 

 exportable surplus of live cattle also is liable to fluctuations, and 

 as long as the present unfavourable conditions are maintained, 

 will not increase greatly either in quantity or in quality. It is 

 possible, however, that, if American stock-raising interests become 

 firmly established in this region under more settled political con- 

 ditions, the surplus of cattle will increase to larger and more stable 



See above, pp. 82, 83. 



. Dept. Agric. Bureau Animal Industry, Bulletin, 41, pp. 5, 6. 

 The numbers have varied considerably. The average for the 12 years, 

 1901-12, was 151,000 head. 



